What's Special about Toronto's Hard Rock Cafe?
Terri and Jeff Wigley were in London recently, and just down from their hotel they saw the original Hard Rock Café. Opened on June 14, 1971, these iconic clubs are now found in 250 locations in 70 countries—including hotels, shops, and casinos.
How the London location looks in 2024 (above), and how it looked in 1971 (below).
TRIVIA: Where was the first expansion of the Hard Rock Café franchise—and the second location ever? Answer: Toronto
Opened on June 23, 1978, on 279 Yonge Street, the glamour of London came to Toronto. Although stories vary, it's possible that one of the earliest performances by The Band with Bob Dylan took place here. This iconic landmark closed on November 1, 2001, to the heartbreak of many fans. In January 2002, the first historic plaque in Toronto honoring a rock-and-roll event was dedicated at this site. Work is underway to re-open this historic location soon.
This landmark is located some 4 blocks from, and on the same street as, the One King West Hotel—site of the PSAI International Summit for Portable Sanitation, November 5-7, 2024.
Yet another reason to come to Toronto!